Unit ignition swtem



Aug. 2, 1949. I H. E. PETERS 2,473,128

UNIT IGNITION SYSTEM Filed March 16, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

9 x I f 43 4 re 42 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY E. PETERS mgmrd 2; 1949. H. E. PETERS 2,478,128

UNIT IGNITIQN SYSTEM Filed March 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r in /6 FIG.6.

IN VEN TOR. HENRY E. PETERS ATI'URN EYS m 2, 1949: H. E. PETERS2,478,128

UNIT IGNITION SYSTEM Filed March 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8. l3

-FIG. 9.

INSULATION a 5 4 INSULAT\ON FIG. [4.

INVENTOR.

HENRY E. PETERS BY a-E E% ATTD R N EYS Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITEDSTATES UNIT IGNITION -"S YSTEM Henry' E. :Peters, Akron,. OhioApplication March 16, 1935,. SeriaFNOf583gD55 1 Claim. 1 The presentinvention, in itsbroad aspect, has to do with improvements in moisture,water, and

dust proof means for connecting the spark plugs of an internalcombustion engine with the distributor, and more particularly it is mypurpose to provide a unitary ignition device which carries thedistributor, novel and improved contacts to the spark plugs, andconnections from the distribut'or to the sparkplug contacts whereby allelements of the system are carried and enclosed against dust, moisture,water and the like, and the entire unit may be attached and removed froman internal combustion engine, and "all adjustments quickly andaccurately made, and short circuits, improper or inaccurate timing andthe like due-todeleterious influences and loose or bad connections andpoor adjustments are guarded *against. Mydevice is desirable for marineinstallations where moisture and-dampness are an ever present hazard toproper function of ignition, and short circuits through sweating and thelike are eliminated.

In carrying out the above and other purposes of my invention, a coverplate of any suitable material, such as plastic, is provided which fitsover that part of the engine from which the spark plugs project or areaccessible. This cover plate is formed and designed to provide a water,moisture, dust, and air proof hood or enclosure about the spark plugs,and carries partially embedded therein novel and improved springcontacts which are placed to properly engage the spark plug terminalwhen the hood or cover is placed on the engine. The hood or covercarries an improved distributor, and the electrical connections from thedistributor to the spark plug contacts are embedded in the cover so thatthe whole constitutes a self-sustained water, moisture, dust and airproof assembly when positioned on the engine.

Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent from the following description and drawings, but it is to beunderstood that changes in form, size, shape, material, construction andarrangement of parts may be made without departing .from my broadinventive concept, or the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of myinvention:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my cover plate and distributor mounted onan engine of the type having spark plugs in the head;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an end view;

RS-e143) "Figured an end View pf my'invention applied *toas'o-calledv-type engine;

Figiire' 5 is a lorigitudinal section Figure 6 is a view o'f "the enginewith the cover plate removed;

Fig'urefl "is' a "bottom plan' vi'ew of the cover plate;

"Figure 8 is "a fragmentary transverse section through the cover plate'with the "distributor head detached;

l igure 9 is a section-showing one of my improved spark plug contacts; V

'figure Ill-is a diagrammatic viewer the'electrical 'dii c lliti"twouistributors;

--dis 'tributor;

Figure 13 is' a view-showing my device as 'used with an engine:havingnver nead "valves and the spark plugs in the sides of the head,and

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the contact assembly shown in Figure9.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used todesignate like or similar parts:

The numeral I designates an engine block having a cylinder head 2 andspark plugs 3. About the head is a rim 4 on which my cover plate 5 ismounted-a suitable removable rubber gasket being used to insure anabsolutely water, moisture, dust and air proof connection between thecover plate and rim thereby, forming a water, moisture, dust and airproof chamber or compartment over the spark plugs of the engine. Thecover plate may be formed of any suitable material, such as a plastic orthe like, and is held in place by spring clips 6 which are attached tothe rim, and are bent over at 1 to engage on the edge of the cover.

The cover plate 5 has an opening 8 in which is seated the distributor 9with a water, moisture, dust and air proof contact and is held in placeby hinged clips II] which are pivoted to the cover at H and engaged overthe lugs l2 in the distributor cover iii. The cover about the openinghas a narrow flange I3.

Partially embedded in the under side of the cover plate are contactassemblies l4. Each contact assembly comprises a cylindrical elongatedhousing i5 having a flanged head l6 which carries the connecting wireattaching post IT. A plunger l8 having a concave end I9 is slidable inthe housing and is urged downwardly by a coil spring 20. In practice theconcave end l9 fits over the ball contact point 2| of the spark plug 3.

All contact assemblies are alike in construction and they are spaced toautomatically fit down with proper alignment and contact on the plugs 3when the cover plate is mounted on the engine.

Embedded in the walls of the opening 8 are coil contact points 22 andspark plug contact points 23 connected by conduits 24 embedded in thecover plates to the posts I! of the contact assemblies l4, and a lowtension wire 25 from the ignition switch of the engine-not shown-is alsoembedded or molded in the cover plate and connects to the ignition coil26. Advance of the spark may be automatically or vacuum controlled andmay be so installed as to prevent tampering. Referring particularly toFigures 8 and 10, the coil 26 is in the cover l3 and the high tensioncontact to the distributor is shown at 28. The distributor shaft 29carries a cam 30 and there are the usual breaker points 3| and condenser32 and distributor arm 33. In the diagram shown in Figure 10, the coil26 is shown in dotted lines and the primary and secondary windings areshown at 34. The battery is designated by 35, the ignition switch by 36,the grounds at 31, and the spring contacts at 38.

In Figure 11 I have shown an adaptation of my invention designed for usewith double distributors 9; these are set at an angle 39. In Figure 13 alaterally and downwardly inclined cover 40 carries the distributor 9 sothat my device is adaptable for use with an engine having over-headvalves 4|. In the adaptation for a V-type engine-shown in Figure 4-thecover plate extends downwardly and laterally as at 42 over the sparkplugs from a central fiat cover part 43 carrying the distributor.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation and advantages ofmy invention will be apparent, but it is again emphasized thatinterpretation of its scope should only be conclusive when made in thelight of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

In a moisture, dirt and air proof ignition system for supporting aninternal combustion engine distributor and contacts for the spark plugsand electrical connections, the improvement comprising a verticallydisposed rim carried by the cylinder head of said engine, an elongatedcover element removably mounted on the rim and covering the spark plugs,said cover adapted to have sealing contact with the rim and meanscarried by the rim for retaining said cover in such contact, a seat insaid cover to receive the distributor for the engine having exposedcontacts thereon, exposed contacts carried by said seat for engagementwith the exposed contacts of the distributor, electrical connectionsembedded in the cover, exposed resilient spark plug contacts havingspring pressed contact plungers engaging the spark plugs and a casingcarrying a plunger and a spring embedded in the cover plate and havingengagement with said electrical connections and protruding from thecover to contact the spark plugs, contacts carried by the seat forengagement with the low and high tension wires, means carried by thecover for detachably connecting the distributor to the cover plate andthe cover distributor and spark plug contacts constituting a removableunit.

HENRY E. PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,378,260 Melton May 1'7, 19212,013,381 Fedden Sept. 3, 1935 2,048,890 Rabezzana July 28, 1936

